Instagram growth for salons doesn’t have to be hard, as long as you have the right tools. Growing an Instagram following from scratch can seem challenging and stressful, and you will face some ups and downs throughout the process, which is why it’s time to turn things around. For salon businesses, Instagram is a powerful tool to attract new clients, showcase your work, and build brand loyalty. Here’s a step-by-step guide to gaining your first 1,000 Instagram followers.
5 Steps To Gain Your First 1,000 Salon Instagram Followers
Growing your first 1,000 salon Instagram followers (and beyond) isn’t just about what you post but also about how you engage with people.
Instagram’s team – and Mosseri himself – have emphasized that genuine engagement is critical to success. A top recommendation is to engage with your audience actively: respond to comments, answer questions, and interact with followers regularly.
Posts shouldn’t be one-way broadcasts; when followers comment on your hair photos or ask about a service, replying thoughtfully makes them feel seen and more loyal. This boosts your standing in the algorithm too, as those comment threads can drive more visibility.
Key Takeaways
- Consistent and Intentional Posting Strategy: Develop a manageable posting schedule, such as 2-3 times per week at consistent times. Align your content with your salon’s brand and audience preferences to ensure relevance and engagement.
- Aesthetically Pleasing Account and Content: Maintain a cohesive visual identity that reflects your salon’s ethos. Use high-quality images, a recognizable username, and a compelling bio to attract and retain followers.
- Engaging Content: Focus on creating content that resonates with your audience, such as before-and-after transformations, client testimonials, informative Reels, and behind-the-scenes posts.
- Effective Use of Hashtags: Incorporate 15-20 relevant hashtags per post, including popular and local ones, to increase your content’s discoverability among potential clients.
- Utilize Instagram Stories and Highlights: Regularly share engaging Stories featuring behind-the-scenes content, client transformations, polls, and Q&A sessions to keep your audience engaged and informed.
- Collaborate with Influencers and Clients: Partner with local influencers and encourage satisfied clients to share their experiences, offering discounts or free services in exchange for social media mentions to expand your reach.
1. Check Your Account Status
In your Instagram profile settings, ensure your account isn’t flagged for any violations. A salon page with only positive content and no guideline strikes will have a better chance of hitting the Explore page.
2. Aesthetically Pleasing Account and Content
One word: aesthetics. It all starts with an aesthetically pleasing account. Ensure your chosen colors, captions, and fonts represent the core of your salon. If your salon embraces an eco-friendly approach, reflect it with neutral tones, fresh florals, and minimalist fonts for a clean, natural aesthetic. For a more glamorous and luxurious vibe, especially if you specialize in bridal hairstyles, incorporate gold accents, bold red captions, and elegant jewel-inspired details to exude sophistication and opulence.
Here are some beginner-friendly tips to incorporate:
- Fun bio: Your bio should describe your services, location, and what makes you unique. You can also use a link tool like Linktree to include multiple links (website, booking page, other socials). Instagram growth for salons comes down to easy website navigation and quick bookings.
- The power of a recognizable username – Your salon’s name should be in the handle (e.g., @glowbeautysalon) so you’re easy to find.
- High-quality pictures – Use your salon’s logo or a well-lit image of your space.
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3. Consistent and Intentional Posting Strategy
Have a key strategy in place if you wish to grow your first 1,000 salon Instagram followers. Random posting will hurt your account, so start with a low-lift posting schedule, such as 2 or 3 times per week on the exact same day and time each day.
If you stick to this type of schedule, you will find it manageable and maybe even enjoyable!
Additionally, posting random content will also hurt your Instagram growth, so before you post that hair picture, take 30 minutes and create a strategy.
- Ask yourself these questions:
What do my current clients like to consume on Instagram? - What do I want to share about my salon business on social?
- Why do I want to grow my Instagram account?
- What is my goal after gaining 1,000 followers?
These questions will help you craft a strong Instagram strategy to gain those new followers quickly.
3. What to Post to Gain 1,000 Salon Instagram Followers
Salon Reels
When you open Instagram, chances are the first posts you see are Reels, and the Explore page is dominated by video. Short-form videos are what users love.
81 % of consumers say they want more short videos from salons. This doesn’t mean photos are “dead,” but leaning into video is essential to grow your account.
Salon Carousels
Carousel posts (multiple images or videos in one post) are still a powerful way to get engagement. Users tend to swipe through them, spending more time on your post.
The carousel posts we create for our customers often generate higher overall engagement than single photos, bucking the trend that only videos perform well.
Instagram even allows longer carousels now (you can include up to 10 slides), enabling more storytelling.
Instagram Stories & Highlights
Stories keep your audience engaged daily. Some content ideas include:
- Behind-the-scenes footage of your salon
- Client transformations and testimonials
- Polls and Q&A sessions
- Exclusive discounts or flash sales
Instagram growth tips aren’t hard to follow, but consistency is key. Stick to a content schedule, engage daily, and continuously experiment with new content styles. Your audience wants to be updated, and as long as you post fun content, the engagement will happen.
Collaborate With Influencers (And Clients, Never Underestimate Your Clients)
Although we often believe that more is better and that quality always trumps quantity, this isn’t the case when it comes to a hair salon. Partnering with micro-influencers and satisfied clients can give your page a massive boost. Here’s how:
- Offer discounts and complimentary services. Ask your clients or influencers to post about their experiences on their social media; in exchange, they’ll get a good deal on their haircut.
- Host local giveaways. Hosting a giveaway requires participants to follow your page, like the post, and tag their friends. This increases your reach significantly.
- Run Location-Based Ads. Target people in your area who are interested in beauty services.
- Use Story Ads. These appear naturally as users swipe through Instagram Stories and often have high engagement rates.
- If you have a team of stylists, ask them to cross-collaborate with the salon’s Instagram account so that their content shows up on your salon feed as well as theirs. This will encourage any of their followers to follow your salon account, too.
Let’s Hit That 1K!
Follow these simple five steps to increase your salon’s Instagram followers and gain your first 1,000! Remember to optimize profiles regularly, ensuring your content remains fresh and appealing. Stay patient, consistent, and focused on providing value to your followers, and your salon’s Instagram will thrive!
Since you now know how to increase Instagram followers organically, are you ready to give it your best?
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